Motor vehicle frame mounting means



June 30, 1953 D. K. cHowNlNG MOTOR VEHICLE FRAME MOUNTING MEANS 2- Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 2. 1951 INVENTOR auf' K. WaW/v/A/G,

9a/Mam ATTORNEYS `Fune 30, 1953 D. K. cHowNlNG MOTOR VEHICLE FRAME MOUNTING MEANS 2 VSheets-Sheet y2 ,Filed Nov. 2, 1951 INVENTOR C'A/Ot//v/A/Gl ATTORNEYS Patented Jne 30, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE FRAME MOUNTING MEANSY BaleK. ChoWning,Mountain View, Mo.

Application November 2, 1951, Serial No.254,497

2 Claims.

This invention relates to ,mounting means for vehicle bodies, and more particularly `to an improved means for connecting the body of a motor vehicle to, its wheel supports `for eliminating sway of the vehicle.

The main objectof the invention is to provide novel and improved vehicle mountingmeans involving simplecomponents, providing a smooth riding action for the vehicle, and being arranged .to eliminate sway. which is now experienced in vehicles as the vehicles move around curves.

A further object of the invention is to provide .an improved mounting means for connecting the body of a vehicle to .its wheel supports, said means being inexpensive to fabricate, being sturdy in construction, and providing improved riding quality for the vehicle, particularly around curves or on inclined roadway surfaces.

Further objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent from the following description .and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a portion of a motor vehicle frame showing improved means for connecting the frame to the wheel '1 .in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken Ion'the line '3-3 of Figure l. n

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view similar 'to 'Figure 3 'but showing Ythe vehicle on' an inclined roadway and illustrating the manner in which the vehicle body `pivots rela-tive to the wheel-supporting means thereof.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional detail View taken on lthe line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of'Figure V5.v

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View taken on line 'I-'I of Figure l.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the action of the improved front wheel regulating mechanism .of `the present invention when one of the front kwheels of the vehicle travels on a surface which is inclined ltoV the surface on which the other front wheel travels.

Referring to the .drawingsl :I designates a motor vehicle, .the main .portion ofthe vehicle being shown in .dotted View .at I2, the .body of the vehicle .being provided with an z.under frame I3 which includes the longitudinaliframe bars I 4, I4. The front wheels .ofv .the vehicle are designated .at

j 2 I 5, I5 and the rear Wheels of the vehicle are designated at I6, I6.

Each of the .front wheels I5 is rotatably mounted on a front wheel supporting'rnember I'I, the top portion of said supporting member being connected by .link means or a pair of inwardly diverging, substantially straight link arms I8, I8 to the adjacent frame bar Ill by pivotal connections Ii9, I9, the linkarms [8,18 being rigidly connected together adjacent the top portions of the wheel ,supporting member I'I by .integral bight elements 2U, the link arms' I8, AI8 and the bight elements 2U defining a `resultant U-shaped link member. Theunder'framebarsld, I4 are formed with the integral upstandingarms "21, and the .top ends of the respective arms '2,I are connected by relatively long L-,shaped vlink bars 22 to the lower portions of the opposite Wheel supporting members Il, as shown in ,Figures "7 and 8, respective pairs yof link bars 22, 22 being employed .to connect the forwardarms ZIM'to 'the lower forward portions .of the wheelv supporting members I'I, II and to connect the vrear arms 2| to .the rear lower corner portions of the Wheel supporting members I'I, Il, as shown in Figure 2. The arms 2| rise upwardly a substantial distance and the connections thereof to the linkbars 22, shown at 23, are located above the location of the center of gravity of the body of the vehicle I2. Therefore, when the front wheels I5, I5 encounter surfaces of different elevations, the 'center of gravity of the vehicle body I2 will tend `to swing away from Athe wheel which is most .elevated and the linkages associated with the front wheels will act to maintain said front wheels substantially perpendicular to the surfaces on which said respective wheels are traveling. For example, as shown in Figure 8, when the left hand front wheel I5 is traveling on an inclined surface and the right hand front Wheel I' is traveling on a substantiallyhorizontal surface, the elevation of the rleft hand wheel .I5 being higher .than that of the right hand wheel, .the vlinkage connecting the left wheel. 1.5 to .the remue under vname will tend to cause the left wheel to swing fin a .clockwise direction, fas viewed fin Figure v8, whereby the left wheel will assume aposition.substantially nor- .mal tothe-surface on which it'istraveling, Whereby most efficient traction will Ybeprovided between each wheel and the surface `with .which -itis in contact and there will be vno tendency of the -velhicle to sway sideways or skid as a result of vthe :different inclinations of lthe surfaces engaged by rthe front wheels I:5,I 5. When -both front wheels tare travelingvonan .inclined roadway, the linkages connecting said front wheels to the vehicle frame will act to maintain the front wheels parallel and the center of gravity of the vehicle body I2 will swing in the same manner as above described, whereby the vehicle body will remain horizontal.

The swinging of the vehicle body with respect to the front wheels is cushioned by respective coiled springs 24, 24 secured between flanges 25 formed on the under frame bars I4, I 4 and bearing plates 2S secured to the subadjacent link bars 22, 22. apparent that when the vehicle body swings counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, relative to the iront wheels I5, I5, the left spring 24 is compressed and the right spring 24 is extended, and a corresponding reverse action takes place when the body I2 swings clockwise relative to the front wheels. The springs 24 are relatively heavy and form effective parts of the respective linkages connecting the front wheel supporting members i1 to the vehicle frame, 'as well as cushioning the. movements of said linkages as the center of gravity of vehicle body I2 swings relative to the front wheels.

llhe rear wheels IE, I6 are supported on a 'conventional rear wheel supporting frame structure 21 which includes the respective rearv wheel axle From Figure; 8 it will be readily housings 28, 28 and the differential ,housing 29.. Y

.Connected to the midway portion of the differenbeing held in substantially vertical position byY respective inclined brace bars 3|, SI connecting the upstanding channel-shaped bar 30 to the respective axle housings 28, 28. As shown in Figure 6, the upstanding channel-shaped bar 3B is formed with the inturned ange elements 32, 32. Designated at 33 is an upwardly bowed cross bar connected at its opposite ends to the under frame bars I4, I4 and located in a transverse vertical plane adjacent to the transverse vertical plane of the upstanding bar member 313.A The central portion of the crossbar is connected to the guide kbar 33 for vertical movement along the guide bar. Specifically, secured to the center of the cross bar 33 is a pin or bolt 34 having the iianged head 35 projecting into the upstanding bar 39, as shown in Figure 5. Journaled on the head 35 is the roller 36 which isY rotatably received inside the channel bar 32 and which is guided thereby for vertical movement. The bolt 314 is located substantially above the location of the center of gravity of the body I2, the upstanding bar 39 rising a substantial distance above the location of said center of gravity. Secured between the longitudinal fra-me bars I4, I4 and the axle housing members 28, 28 are respective heavy coil springs 31, 31 which cushion the rocking movements of the under frame I3 relative to the rear wheel supporting member 21.

As shown in Figure 4, when the vehicle is traveling on an inclined road surface, as for example when the left rear wheel I6 is at a higher elevation than the right rear wheel I6, as viewed in Figure 4, the left spring 31 is compressed and the Yright spring 31 i5 extended, the center of gravity of the vehicle body I2 swinging below the pivot bearing provided by the roller 36 in the channel member 30. It will be apparent that the center of gravity may swing freely around the roller 3B as a bearing and that the body I2 will hence tend to remain substantially horizontal regardless of the inclination of the road surface on which the rear wheels I6, I6 are traveling. The swinging movements of the body I2 are cushioned by the springs 31, 31 whereas the bearing roller 36 is free to move longitudinally in the channel 30 in accordance with varying road conditions.

The combined actions of the rear wheel cushioning and supporting means and the front wheel cushioning and supporting means provide an extremely smooth riding action for the vehicle and effectively eliminate side sway when the vehicle passes around curves.

While a specific embodiment of an improved motor vehicle frame suspension means has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no vlimitations be placed on the invention except as Ydeiined by the scope of the appended claims.

l What is claimed is:

i i. In a vehicle, an under frame including a pair of longitudinal frame bars, a supporting frame structure including a pair of axle housings connected together by a differential housing and carrying a pair of drive wheels arranged transversely of and below said frame bars adjacent the rearward ends of the latter, an' upstanding guide bar having theflower end connected to the midway portion of said di'ierential housing for rocking movement about' an axis transverse of said housing, a crossbar having each of itsV ends connected to the adjacent frame bar, the center of said crossbar being bowed upwardly and being above the center of gravity of said under frame, a'pin extending transversely through and carried by the center of said crossbar and having one end sldably engaging said guide bar, and a cushioning spring disposed between and operatively. connected to each axle housing and the adjacent frame bar.

2V. In a vehicle, an under frame including a pair of longitudinal frame bars, a supporting frame structure including a pair of axle housings connected together by a differential housing and carrying a pair of drive wheels arranged transversely of and below said frame bars adjacent the rearward ends of the latter, an upstanding guide bar having the lower end connected to the midway portion of said differential housing. for rocking movement about an axis transverse of said housing, a crossbar having each of its ends connected to the adjacent frame bar, the center of said crossbar being bowed upwardly and being above the center of gravity of saidiuider frame, a pin extending transversely through and carried by the center of said crossbar and having one end extending into said guide bar, a roller on said one end of said pin and rollably engaging said guide bar, and a cushioning spring disposed v between and operatively connected to each axle housing and the adjacent frame bar.

DALE K. CHOWNING.

References cites in the fue of this patent UMTED sTATEs PATENTS 

